Christopher Marshall papers, 1744-ca. 1971The Historical Society of Pennsylvania2009EAD tagging done by ctm, July 2009.ENGChristopher Marshall papers, 1744-ca. 1971The Historical Society of PennsylvaniaEnglishChristopher Marshall (1709-1797) was a druggist and chemist in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. His papers consist of his original diaries from 1774 to 1781 and 1783
to 1785; six bound volumes of photocopies of the original diaries; handwritten
transcripts of his diaries from 1782 to 1783, 1786 to 1791, and 1793 to 1795; and
two sets of extra-illustrated volumes (seven total) containing pages from William
Duane Jr.’s Extracts from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, 1774-1781,
illustrations by David McNeely Stauffer, and a variety of original
documents.Christopher Marshall papers,1744-ca.
1971Collection 3953 boxes, 22 volumes, 3.8 linear feet The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19107

Christopher Marshall was born in Dublin, Ireland, on November 6, 1709. He was
educated in England and sailed to America sometime in the late 1720s. By 1729, he
had established a pharmacy shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Sarah
Thompson (1702-1771) in 1736 and the couple had three surviving sons. A few years
after Sarah’s death, in 1774, he married again, this time to Abigail Fisher Cooper
(1721-1782).

His success as a pharmacist and chemist allowed him to retire from business in 1774,
but he remained a vital public figure. In 1776, he became a delegate to the
Philadelphia Provincial Council, and he was twice appointed to the Continental
Committee of Council and Safety. His retirement afforded him the time to keep
diaries of public and personal events. He wrote these “remembrances” almost daily
from about 1774 to at least 1795.

Marshall was a devout member of the Society of Friends, although he was eventually
excommunicated from the Society. According to the minutes of the Philadelphia
Monthly Meeting, in 1751, he was disowned by the Society for counterfeiting money.
Later in life, he apparently supported the American cause for independence from the
British. In 1777, Marshall relocated to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to improve his
health and avoid the British armies. After hostilities ceased, Marshall moved back
to Philadelphia where he died on May 7, 1797.

The Christopher Marshall papers consist of his original diaries, bound photocopies of
the original diaries, handwritten transcripts of the diaries done by Charles
Marshall, extra-illustrated versions of William Duane Jr.’s published extracts from
Marshall’s diaries, and Duane’s handwritten transcriptions from the diaries. Also in
the collection are a letterbook and an account book of transactions with the
Continental Congress. Overall, the material from the diaries dates from 1774 to
1795; however, the extra-illustrated volumes were created after 1882, the
transcripts were created circa 1900, and the volumes of photocopies were created in
the early 1970s. Duane’s handwritten transcriptions are undated, but were presumably
created sometime before they were first published in 1839. Regardless of form,
Marshall’s diaries provide interesting insights from a local merchant into
Revolutionary War-era Philadelphia, as well as first-hand accounts of events leading
up to the war.

The two boxes in the collection contain handwritten transcripts of Marshall’s diaries
by Charles Marshall, one of Christopher’s descendants. The transcriptions are from
Marshall’s diaries dated 1782 to 1783, 1786 to 1791, and 1793 to 1795. (Hence, they
are not included in William Duane’s published extracts from diaries dated 1774 to
1781.) Although Charles’s penciled script can be difficult to read, his work appears
to be fairly comprehensive. During this time and almost daily, Christopher wrote
entries which consisted mostly of weather observations, notes on visits from friends
and family, and daily events. “Sunshine and Cold,” he wrote on February 7, 1791,”
Snow on the ground[,] Wind S.W. break[fast] at home[,] writing – paid J. Jarves for
Carey and Steward 26/3 due for the Douey Bible.” However, he also provided the
occasional insights into the general state of family life, religious values, and
current events. For example, on August 21, 1787, he wrote, “Jacob K_____ came with a
neighbor of his for an order to bury his child[,] he being a Mennonite, his child
not baptized, refused at Luther + Calvin Meeting Homes.”

Volumes 1 to 6 are bound photocopies of Marshall’s extant diaries lettered “B”
through “H.” (A typed note in Volume 1 indicates that diaries “A” and “G” are and
have been missing.) Volumes 7 to 9 consist of the first of two sets of
extra-illustrated volume – this set contains original documents, prints, original
illustrations by David McNeely Stauffer, as well as published pages from William
Duane’s Extracts from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, 1774-1781. At the end of
Volume 9 is an index to the non-published papers in the preceding volumes, such as a
receipt to Christopher Marshall dated June 21, 1758 and a letter from James
McCullough from Boston dated November 8, 1748. There are also autographs of
prominent figures of the Revolution, such as John Hancock, John Adams, Ben Franklin,
Patrick Henry, Thomas Willing, Joseph Reed, and Miers Fisher. Prints adhered into
the volumes include images of events (Boston Tea Party), locales (View in
Londonderry, engraved by J. Nixon, Esq.), and buildings (Old State House,
Philadelphia). In most cases, the documents, prints, and illustrations have been
placed adjacent to Duane’s published passages that refer to them. For example, in
Volume 7, page 16, Marshall’s diary entry mentioned the Royal Exchange, and a print
of the building was placed on the following page.

The second set of extra-illustrated volumes, Volumes 10 to 13, were illustrate by
George Steinman of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and also contain a wide variety of
original documents and prints. Unlike in the first set, Mr. Steinman “illustrated”
his volumes not with original art, but mostly with captioned photographs and
artifacts, such as the “stamp of the Stamp Act, one of the causes of the
Revolution,” he noted. Also unlike Stauffer’s three volumes, Steinman housed many
more original documents alongside published mages from Marshall’s diaries; hence,
his work spilt into a fourth volume. Unfortunately, Steinman did not provide an
index to the impressive collection of letters, receipts, deeds, and other documents
dating from the late 1700s to the early 1800s, many of which are from prominent
members of the military and social elite, such as George Washington, Benjamin Rush,
Thomas Mifflin, Juliana Penn, and Robert Morris.

Other volumes in the collection include Marshall’s letterbook dated 1773 to 1778
(Volume 14), Christopher and Charles Marshall’s wastebook “No. 9” of accounts with
the Continental Congress dated February to July 1776 (Volume 15), and William
Duane’s handwritten transcriptions of the diary extracts he published, n.d (Volume
16). Additionally, Volumes 17 to 22 constitute Marshall’s original diaries.

A transcribed index to the documents and images in extra-illustrated volumes 7, 8,
and 9 is available in HSP's library.